Andy Holding's Friday Horse Racing Tips

EVERGATE (best price 4-1) has shaped really encouragingly on both starts for new connections and he looks primed to play a leading role with plenty in his favour. Too keen for his own good on his first outing for 177 days at Wolverhampton last month, he still has enough quality to keep on well for pressure to finish a creditable second to the race-fit Queen In Waiting and he backed that up with another solid effort at Bath last time out. Just slightly missing the kick, Robert Cowell’s charge was then forced to make his challenge out wide in the hottest part of the race at the Somerset venue and that big, mid-race manoeuvre ended up costing him dear as he was just worried out of the argument late on by Juan Horsepower. The time figure of that race 11 days ago, however, suggests the form could turn out to be quite strong (Poet’s Society ran a blinder from a poor draw here yesterday), and providing he jumps and settles well from his favourable inside draw, the son of Exceed And Excel should be right in the thick of the action.

JUDICIAL (best price 9-4) clocked an exceptionally fast time when scoring tidily at Pontefract last time out and with plenty of runners in today’s field to ensure he gets the strong pace he requires to be at his best, the five-year-old can go in again. Impressing by the way he travelled throughout that blistering gallop at the Yorkshire track, Julie Camacho’s charge only had to be nudged out to record a comprehensive victory and having already scored at today’s venue on his only previous visit here last year, everything looks set fair for another positive display from this in-form so of Iffraaj.

Jockey arrangements suggest Okool is the one to be with from the Hamdam Al Maktoum ranks, but while Owen Burrows’ charge will no doubt dominate the market, it would come as no surprise either to see supposed second strong WASM (best price 11-1) feature heavily in the final outcome. Although beaten 12 lengths on his debut over today’s C&D 30 days ago, Simon Crisford’s inmate ran a good deal better than the bear numbers suggest and with just normal improvement he should turn out to be much more competitive second time around. Held up out the back and last turning for home, the son of Exceed And Excel met plenty of trouble in running as he was trying to muster up a late challenge, but in finishing his race off really strongly in the latter stages, he gave out positive signals that he’d be a totally different proposition next time out.

WINNING WAYS (best price 7-2) came out of his latest performance at Newbury with great credit and he can take the scalps of some big reputations in this cracking-looking 7f three-year-old handicap. A winner on his first outing since switching from the William Haggas stable during the winter, clearly combination of a tongue-tie and hood have had the desired effect on this lightly-raced sort and his effort at the Berkshire venue suggests there are plenty of good days still ahead for the son of Lope De Vega. Held up out the back door, Jeremy Noseda’s charge was still last with two furlongs to go, but finding a rare turn of speed in the closing stages he managed to catapult himself in to a closing third at the line. Given that he achieved this feat on the slowest part of the track up the near rail, his effort deserves upgrading and with his hold-up run-style tactics that are often served well over today’s straight course, a big run looks in the offing.

Highlighted in a previous column as one to follow in decent sprint contests throughout the season, MAZZINI (best price 2-1) gets a chance to begin his campaign in the best possible fashion. A big improver last year - typical of his trainer - James Fanshawe’s inmate impressed on many occasions with the turn of foot he has in his locker, and it would come as little surprise to find him gunning for many pattern races as the season progresses.

As the saying goes, “if you can’t beat them, join them”, and that old adage couldn’t be any more relevant where Jessica Harrington is concerned at present and the Col Kildare handler appears to have another golden chance of bagging yet another winner in the shape of SHAWAMI (NAP) (best price 5-2) in this modest-looking 0-65 handicap. Having her first start for new connections, the daughter of Acclamation ran a good deal better than her eventual finishing position suggest at Gowran 12 days ago, as she was the only runner to plough a lone furrow on the un-favoured far side of the track. Likely to be sharper both physically and mentally for that initial run, tonight’s better surface looks sure to suit and from her favourable low draw, victory appears well within her compass.